FAYC3 REPORT: CHARLTON 0-1 CARDIFF

Cardiff City's apprentices booked their place in the fourth round of this season's FA Youth Cup with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at the Valley.

The hosts enjoyed a strong first half, with England U19 international Karlan Ahearne-Grant pulling the strings for the Addicks scholars.

It was a better second period for City's U18 side, coming out in determined fashion and they deservedly took the lead with just five minutes remaining. Central midfielder Jamie Veale was given space to run following substitute Will Taylor's clever pass, Veale using his time to set and fire home an unstoppable 25-yard drive, giving Charlton keeper Dimitar Mitov no chance of saving.

Time ran out as the Addicks attempted to find a way back into the match with coaches Matthew Bloxham and Jarred Harvey leading Cardiff's apprentices into the fourth round, where they will meet Burnley in an away tie set to take place at the end of January.

Cardiff arrived at the Valley knowing it would be a difficult encounter against a strong Addicks side including England U19 International forward Kerlon Ahearne-Grant. City's apprentices set out for this battle with a 4-3-3 formation, wingers Abdi Noor and Elvis Menayese supporting top-scorer Eli Phipps in attack while there were places on the substitutes bench for current U16 players Scott Coughlan, Lewis Baldwin and Mark Harris.

The first chance of the match fell to the hosts following Regan Charles-Cook's strong run down the left side, supplying the ball for Ademola Lookman to fire over the crossbar from an acute angle after 12 minutes. While the hosts enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening period, they struggled to carve out a real opportunity with the Cardiff City defence holding strong. Home captain Aaron Barnes delicate through ball almost found Brandon Hanlan in the box, but the forward couldn't stretch far enough to make contact with only Joseph Massaro to beat. Massaro was called into action after 32 minutes, but the young City shot stopper was more than equal to playmaker Ahearne-Grant's shot from 20-yards. 

Pacey winger Noor almost made the Addicks pay for their wasteful play just a minute later, beating his defender during a mazey run on the left side before dragging a low shot just wide of goal. City began to grow into this match more and more in the final fifteen minutes of the half, Phipps with a delightful through ball for Elvis Menayese, who in-turn set for Lloyd Humphries to try his luck from 20-yards with his shot deflecting just wide of Dimitar Mitov's left post. 

The best chance of the half came for the Addicks with just three minutes to the break. Wide midfielder George Lapslie with an accurate cross that perfectly found the head of Ahearne-Grant but he diverted the ball well over from close range. Charlton had one further chance before the break through defender Ezri Konsa, though he also nodded over from less than five yards out. The strong first half defensive display from Cardiff meant it was goalless at the break, despite the hosts controlling possession and having two good opportunities to score late on.